Rain, Rain Go Away and FO

This week started off with warnings for the upcoming Tropical Cyclone.  It was in the back of our minds all week.  On Tuesday our Tuesday night crew visited Darren’s place for the first time since he moved.  He has a nice back yard and area for his new shed.  A great get together.  I was doing some more work on my HO QR HO wagon.  I did a bit of painting of the HO wagon and the underfloor and bogies.  It came up quite well, or so I thought until I put my glasses on.

We were very lucky that the TC when it tracked north of us.  But it was eerily quiet on the Friday with the sun out.  The cyclone was about 60-70 km from our place due east.  It eventually hit the north of Brisbane in the bay islands and then it stopped in its tracks for a whole day just south of Caloundra.  It was not very windy either, but we had a few gusts.  I did some touch up painting in the sun on Friday to my HO wagon to cover up where the first coat was a bit deficient.  Didn’t that weather change!  We have just had rain after rain after rain yesterday and today.  I’m OK and I ever flood, I’d just geta ticket on Noah’s new boat.  The whole world will be in trouble.

We survived the TC coming ashore.  From Saturday morning at about 9:53am, the power went out.  It eventually came back on at 1:33am today.  The Energex website showed a huge area without power and 1800 houses, covering our place.  But just after the sunset and the wife and son went to get dinner at Hungry Jacks, they noticed some street lights on and a couple of houses with lights and power in our street.  Our neighbours across the street and next store on one side had power.  We already knew that our house was on a different circuit to both those neighbours, but we thought that they didn’t have any power due to the map.  We eventually put some milk, butter and cheese in our next door neighbours in their fridge overnight.  They had no idea that the rest of the suburb didn’t have any power.  We were bored yesterday with nothing to do.  I had no decent light for the workbench so I did not do any modelling.  I played 500 with my son.

While talking to someone online earlier in the week, I noticed that I had not installed the various handrails on the front and rear doors of my QR 2050 railmotor.  So that was put on the modelling list.  I bent them up today and will trial fit them all tomorrow and paint them when it dries out a bit.

Today I also booked my trip down to the Rosehill Exhibition in October.  There are quite a few of us on the same plane going down and back.  We are all staying at the same motels as well.  While trying to pay for my plane ticket, I kept getting an error.  I had to back out and select a dearer ticket coming back.  Then my mate Darren posts in our group chat seconds before me that he is on a seat just in front of me on the plane and paid the cheaper price.  What a B…….  That was my cheap ticket he purchased.  Anyway, I can kick him on the flight home.

Model Building Progress

Progress this week was on three construction projects.  I was building sideframes for my QR DH.  I shortened three of them instead of making new ones.  I added the sand boxes and spray painted them black. 

The second project was continuing work on my QR 2050 railmotor.  This is where most of the work was concentrated.  It included making a step board out from both end doors.  This was made by using checker plate patterned styrene.  I have some sheets of this in styrene around and I used up way less than 1 cm x 1 cm.  My prototype photos of the railmotor showed that the small step board had a checker plate pattern, so I added one to each end of my model.  I then made some buffers.  I had to fit the buffers.  I also added air hoses, KD couplers and MU cables.  I also got around to adding an extra inline resistor to the rear marker lights.  I did the same to the front marker lights and this has reduced the light intensity of these lights.  I also did a bit of work on the front section of the roof.  There was a gap between the roof section and the front piece of styrene for the railmotor front.  So I added some extra styrene to the roof piece and then sanded it back down.  It now fits like a glove.  I also needed to adjust the roof line at the front of the roof, so more work has been undertaken here and it does look a lot better.  I made up some homemade battery boxes, added an engine and then the fuel tank, and air cylinders for the undersides.  At that time, the underside components still need to be painted.  I have been compiling photos of the bogie sideframes for the QR 2050 railmotor and I think I really need to try and get a 3D printed version, as I’m not sure I can find some plastic springs to use in scratch building the bogies for the railmotor.  I think it will be huge scratch building effort.  But I will investigate further.

The front of the railmotor with the MU cable, buffers, KD, and air hoses.  Just don't look to closely at the front.  The 3 foot rule applies here.

A side view with the underfloor detail applied.

The other side of the railmotor.

The next model that received some focus was my long ignored QR HO wagon.  I removed some styrene tie down rods and replaced these with phosphor bronze wire.  I added brake hoses, and couplers.  Under the wagon I added the various brake pipe pipework and the brake cylinder.  I added door locking bars, and door hinges and door latches.  I eventually got around to adding the uncoupler lift bars on Saturday, but I made these early on in the week.  I started making the various underfloor air tanks as my spares collection is running low.  I was able to obtain a parts layout for the HO wagon equipment from Arthur Hayes and this helped me identify and locate this equipment.  I had been going through my decal collection and I need to get some items.  I swapped some white metal bogies that I was going to use on this HO wagon, with what I had on another wagon.  The other wagon had some Wuiske bogies.  The Wuiske bogies allowed me to use a cutdown pair of Kadee #441 brake hangers for HO (16.5mm) that I narrowed to 12mm.  These fit over the Wuiske spacers and sit nicely on the bogie and makes the bogie look complete.  I couldn't use them on the white metal bogie.  Hopefully I get an extra point when I submit that model for assessment in the future.  All of these items also need to be painted.  While watching the NRL on TV today, I painted the underside of my QR QH, QR HO wagon and the QR 2050 railmotor.

The HO wagon with coupler lift var, air hoses and various detail items applied

Showing off some of the detail items.

I will need to go through a huge list of activities still to complete this HO wagon.  Then I have a second one to complete.

I glued the side frames to the QR DH bogies, two on Friday and 2 on Saturday.

I went to a local Buy and Sell this morning and that was a wasted $5 entry fee.  I had a great time talking to some mates there, but nothing in the detail range that I actually wanted to buy was there.  Looks like there is a Casula order coming this week.

More Railmotor Work and DH Progression

This week I’ve been working on some articles.  The first two I was doing have been completed and both submitted to the relevant magazine authorities.  I then needed to update some associated photos.  I was asked by the overseas editors to provide a video on one of the topics.  Given where I installed my topic, this was a bit difficult.  I was videoing into the abyss, that is across an aisle in the shed and you are then confronted with the blurry background.  So I tried to make a white backdrop.  I enlisted the help of my apprentice but the resultant video could have been better.  I might try and re-do the video this week.  I took some more photos on Saturday morning. 

I also got around to installing the window bars on all the relevant windows on my QR 2050 class railmotor.  These were then spray painted.  That was followed by installing the marker lights – front and back on the trailer.  Then I set about installing the actual windows.  I was also working on the buffing plates on the railmotor.  These turned out quite well.

A while back I built a concertina, that is used for protesting the passengers in trailer to trailer walking.  I have no idea where I securely placed this item.  So I had to spend some time building another 2.  I think I will need another 2 or even 4, so I should strike while the iron is hot and build them now.  Today I took the railmotor back down to the test track and tested the lights.  Then I remembered that they are way too bright.  I will have to add another resistor inline to tone them down a bit.  Another job for this week.

This is a snap of a bit of the QR 2050 railmotor plan showing the concertina across the door.  When two trailer are next to each other they protect the people on the workway.

I’ve also started down the path of building some QR DH bogie sideframes.  The first I did was passable.  The next three that I built are too big between the axel boxes.  I will need to shorten this distance by about 1.5mm - 2mm.  I will have to build some more tomorrow.  The issue is I have run out of that size styrene.

The bogie sideframes on the left and the two concertina connections on the right.  The passable one is down the bottom.

New DEB Set and New Beer Fridge Arrive

This week has been a slow week.  Not much Modelling activity was undertaken.  On Wednesday I ventured over to the club and raised a few eyebrows when I walked in mid-week.  I picked up a couple of decoders, that I should have done on Saturday.  I watched some trains running on the HO Clubroom layout, some trains running on the HO/HOn 3½ exhibition layout for a shakedown before an upcoming exhibition and also people working on the new HO/HOn 3½ Clubroom Layout.  I got the decoder tester our to check out the old decoder that I first put into my DH model.  I could not get it to talk.

I came home and did some work in the shed.  On Thursday, a new beer fridge was being delivered in the afternoon.  So I had to get the old one out and I put it in the pergola for the fridge deliverers to take away.  I drafted the apprentice to help me get it up the stairs out of the shed. I also had to remove the shelf that was above the old fridge as the new fridge was about 2cm higher.  Bugger.  Anyway that was easily done.  PK sent me a message on Wednesday arvo, saying that the decoder I was testing earlier at the Club, was indeed beyond repair – as I thought.

Thursday dawned and the first course of business was the predicted delivery of the Auscision DEB set. It rocked up at about midday.  It was unpacked, and taken to the shed.  The carriages were electrically connected and the set put on the track in Grafton Yard.  The sound was activated, the horn tested and it was run from Grafton Yard and got to Cassino where it stabled in the yard.  I needed lunch.  I will have to work out if I need to set up a fake consist so I can drive the DEB set from both ends.  I might need to just turn down the sound volume a few settings as well.  Soon after the fridge guys rocked up.  They helped me put the fridge in the shed and then they took the old one away.  They were gobsmacked by the layout.  One guy said his grandfather had a train set.  If you ever need a fridge, use Appliances Online, their delivery crew are just the best and they take the old one away.  That night we got online and had a discord chat on Marty’s site.

The DEB set is sitting in the Loop at Cassino

The Fridge is stocked and ready for use

Friday was another day of nothingness.  I packed up what I needed to take with me for Saturday but that was it.  We got online and were talking to a few people on Discord, and then talking to more people on Adam’s Whereby site.

Saturday was our NMRA meeting day.  We all ventured out to Ipswich for the meeting.  I got there early and had a pleasant walk to the CJ Vogler & Son Hobby Shop about 400 - 500 metres away.  I had a good browse and picked up a stock of styrene at a fantastic price.  While there 3 other Tuesday Nighters rocked up (Arthur, Barnacle and Kevin) and I think they all bought something at the hobby shop as well.  Back at the hall where our meeting was, people were starting to turn up.  We certainly had a big attendance.  I think it must have been above 40, and there were about half a dozen online as well.  The Ipswich Club certainly put on a great meat and salad lunch which was really appreciated by the attendees.  We had a great natter before, between and after the presentation sessions.  I got there at 9:00am and I think I left just before 5:00pm.  What a day.

Some nice work by Garry on display

A couple of shed by Garry

Later that night we were able to join the BR guys for their fortnightly Brew and Natter on webex.  That was another good session.

My main task now is to work on two presentations for the National NMRA magazine which all NMRA members in Australia and NZ have access to.  I was asked to work on an article for this publication.  Basically they are finished, I just need a few clearances and a review or two by some mates.  Maybe mid-week these will be sent off.

QR DH Loco Development

This week we went down to Sufferers Parasite for 5 days for a bit of a holiday.  Our unit was very nice and had a great outlook over the ocean.  We were just next to a Tram Station, so it was a short trip to the middle of Surfers.  We used the tram quite a bit for those $0.50 trips.  The trams were always full.  I planned to do lots of modelling down the coast, but did nothing.  However, when I got back home, I went to the Train Club meeting on Saturday and showed off my QR 12mm DH mechanism that I have only tried on DC.  It ran very well on the Club test track.  I also gave my QR 12mm 2050 class railmotor on the text track.  I showed off the various marker lights and head lights. 

While at the Club I saw a brilliant 3D print of a QR 2000 class railmotor, which is developing.  I can’t wait for the guys to perfect this print, as I will be buying two shells and then putting two pairs of bogies into the shells and then working on the headlights and marker lights.  I might need to buy a cheap decoder or two to get these shells operational.  I forgot to buy a couple of decoders while at the Club yesterday.  Doh!

When I got home, I set about trying to get the DH mechanism to sit about 1mm lower in the body.  I think I achieved that.  I then installed a decoder that I had taken out of another loco that I recently sold.  The purchaser wanted the loco on DC only, so I removed the decoder.  The loco that was sold ran very well on DC and DCC.  However, after installing the decoder into the DH, it would not run.  I could not read anything from the decoder.  I have no idea what the issue was.  So I replaced that decoder with another one and that runs really well.  The next plan is to install some headlights into the DH shell.  I test the loco this arvo and the headlights are not working.  The front headlight is on solid and the rear headlight will not work.  There must be a wire touching somewhere.  So I will pull it apart again tomorrow to check it out.

My activities will soon turn to working on a couple of models for the modelling competition for the August NMRA Australasian Convention in Brisbane.  First off is to identify what I will be doing?  How many models I will be completing?  What components I need to buy and super detail the models and then get stuck into the work?  I have about 6 months to do this work.  I should have enough time.

I also have a feeling that the Auscision DEB sets will be rocking up this week or maybe next week.  I can’t wait for mine to rock up.  I just need to find a siding on the layout to store my set on.

More Lighting and Bogie Deliveries

This week on the Public Holiday I went over to Bob’s place and gave him his 12mm power and dummy bogies that rocked up in the mail last week.  I installed the last 2.4m section of lights above Rocklea Sidings.  On Tuesday I went to Jaycar and picked up some wire.  The wire was installed between the string of lights above Rocklea Siding to the other half of that 5m string at the northern end of Acacia Ridge Yard.  I spliced the wire into the power supply and gave it a test.  Quite nice.

Now I needed to look at installing an additional string of lights above the trackwork between Glenapp Loop and The Risk.  With the extra width added to the baseboard level above between Loco Pilly and Dutton Park, and also underneath the Yeerongpilly station, the section of layout is quite dark.  So another string of LED lights is called for.  I will experiment on how to install it.  I was thinking of using another couple of lengths of plasterer’s angle.

Wednesday it was my job to install a new power bogie into my QR 2050 class railmotor.  This was done and I also installed 5 sets of LEDs the 0402 type for the headlight, front marker lights and the rear marker lights. 

On Friday I went to the other side of town and dropped off a load of 12mm bogies at the AMRA Clubrooms, for Luke and Guy.  I had a good talk to Luke, and some other mates there - Barry and Anatol.  Prior to that I stopped off at PK's for convenient parking and a free coffee.  On the way home I did a Bunnings stop with two short extension leads and 2 additional lengths of Plasterer’s Angle procured.  When home, I sprayed the plasterer’s angle silver and allowed it to dry overnight.

On Saturday I got around to testing the QR 2050.  The lights were very bright.  I might have to add some higher resistance to the various LED lights this week.  But they all work and the loco runs better than ever.  I really do think the previous motor bogie I had which sh@t itself was truly buggered from the beginning.  It runs very nicely now, much better than before. 

I then joined two lengths of plasterer’s angle together and then glued a 5m run of LED lighting to the plasterer’s angle and allowed that to dry.  Later in the evening, I got my apprentice and he helped me hold the string of lights (4.8m in length) as I glued it and clamped it to the inside of the fascia above the Glenapp Loop to The Risk section.

This photo shows the LED string lit and positioned up behind the upper fascia.

This show shows the next section of fascia.  Again the lights are on.

Just for something to do, after receiving a question from Barnacle Bob on Friday concerning how to install the 12mm bogies, I decided to create a frame for my 12mm bogies to go into my 3D printed QR DH loco which I purchased from Modeller's Warehouse a while back.  I created a frame to attach the bogies to, and built 4 side holding clips for the DH bogies.  These were added to the frame, and I tested the DH frame of DC power.  My dummy bogie was way out of gauge, so I fixed that and gave it a new test.  So the DH test bogie is now running well on DC.  I have identified a DCC chip and I have found a couple of LED lights.  This week I will try and install the LED decoder and drill out some headlight holes in the body frame and add these.

Layout Lights Above Acacia Ridge Yard

Last week I forgot to include my activities for Saturday afternoon and Sunday in that blog update.  I eventually got around to installing an auto-reverser that will handle the two narrow gauge/standard gauge crossings in the Dutton Park area.  I only tested a narrow gauge train travelling across one of the crossings.  But I replaced a working DPDT switch with the auto reverser, so I assume they all work.

On Sunday I started cutting up some wood to be used for a test rig for some train detection and an interface with JMRI.  That will take me most of this year to complete and test.  This will be the introduction to CTC between Grafton Yard and Cassino.  This test section was made so that it folds up.  It is basically 3 lengths of 1.2mm ply, that telescope out and will allow me to connect everything up to a Powercab and laptop and test track detection.

On Monday I received a delivery of wood organised by Darren.  By the end of the day, two of the lengths or 42mm x 19mm (5.4m) had been cut up and most of it had been attached to the previously installed lighting frame uprights and was over the area near the entry door around to the end of the narrow gauge yard at Acacia Ridge.  I was not initially sure of the final design of the frame above the main area of Acacia Ridge narrow gauge yard towards the Glenapp Loop end.  It just developed.

Tuesday was Tuesday Nighters and they came to my place as Geoff (down the road) hurt his back.  We had 10 people rock up.  Bit by bit visitors were walking around the layout checking things out.  A few laughed at Shelton the Photographer.  We eventually re-convened in the pergola and had a long talk about a lot of subjects.

The lighting frame is supported from behind.

More support comes from the supports attached to the shed wall.

This is taken before the painting of the lighting frame started.

Wednesday I went to the shed and started ticking off my To-Do List tasks.  I made the trigger section for “Shelton” larger.  I took down the lighting frame from the posts above the northern end of Acacia Ridge Yard.  I painted a couple of lengths of plasterer’s angle that I had.  I needed to get another two lengths.  Once the plasterer's angle was dry I added this to the frame.  However, being a bit of a dork, I added it to the top of the frame, not the bottom.  Bugger!  So I then had to remove it, and re-add it to the bottom side of the frame.  Some people are just ‘Dumb!’  This frame was then re-attached to the posts.  I extended the lighting frame by adding the next 2.2m length of lightening support frame.  I then cut the last 2.8m length so that it joins up with the lighting support frame above Clapham Yard.  With the help of my son, so I could mark the spot on the wall to drill into, I attached the first lighting frame support bracket to the wall.  This was attached to the lighting frame.  I’m getting there.

My delivery of 12mm motor bogies from Germany rocked up on Wednesday.  I had been waiting since about 2 weeks before Christmas.  I only got notification in the afternoon.  I had been waiting for a notification that the items had been sent to the courier since last Thursday.  But nothing was coming.  But on Wednesday in my Junk mail, 4 items appeared.  But I could have sworn that I had nothing in my junk on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning.  Anyway – the delivery is here.  More things to keep me distracted.

On Thursday I went to the shed and installed the last length of lighting frame, and then installed the second frame support bracket from the shed wall.  I also painted up a short bit of plasterer’s angle. Friday included a trip to Bunnings to pick up a single length of plasterer’s angle and box of sheet metal screws to attach the plasterer’s angle to the lighting frame.  The plasterer’s angle was painted.  While it was drying the third wall support bracket was completed.  It was also attached to the lighting support.

Saturday was the day when it all came together.  I attached the piece that I painted on Friday to the lighting frame.  The next job was to paint the outside of the lighting frame and the posts all black to remove them from our vision when operating.  They all got 2 coats.  I then started to install the length of LED lights starting at the far end near Clapham Yard.  While these strings have an adhesive backing, I also use aquadhere on the back of the strings and hold it with small clamps while it sets.

Starting at the doorway on the left, the lighting support frame has been painted.

As we work our way around Acacia Ridge Yard, towards Clapham Yard, you can see most of the painting is complete.

This photo shows the LED strip being added to the lighting frame.

Today I completed the installation of the first string.  I connected it to power and tested it.  It works well. 

The first string illuminated with no lights on the shed, just the layout lights in this area and the back wall.

I then started adding the second string of lights from where the first sting ran out and heading towards the shed door.  So that is now installed.  I cut the string in half.  The rest of the string is to go behind the current string above Rocklea Siding.  I had to get another length of Plasterer's angle and it too was painted.  It was attached to a wooden frame and painted black.  I have also added the rest of the LED light string, but this lighting frame has not yet been added to the three support brackets - Tomorrow's job.  Then I can test this full string of LED lights as well.   

On Friday I went into town by bus and train and as I was crossing Melbourne Street at South Brisbane across the SE Busway, you could see the old tram tracks in the roadway.  I bet that caused someone a problem.

Also it appears that the recent work on the Cross River Rail southern portal at Dutton Park has allowed electrical overhead to be run all the way into the tunnel now.

Operations Sessions Rectifications

I started working on my To-Do list on Monday.  First was replacing the power supply for ‘Shelton the Photographer’.  It works now from track power.  I went over to check out a troublesome point in Cassino Yard, which caused stalls.  I move the throw rod, and it does not throw.  So the steel actuator wire has come out from the point.  I hate that job to replace the wire into the point.  It involves getting the layout at that location.  Maybe next week.

I needed to run 4 trains on the layout to do some checking and right some wrongs by the previous crew.  The first was No. 9 the Down Banana Express.  It started at Grafton Yard, and went to Old Cassino and picked up the 4 missing banana wagons here.  It returned to Grafton Yard and the wagons were ordered to be correct according to the shunt list.  It left Grafton Yard again, dropped two wagons in Old Cassino, dropped 5 wagons in Lismore and then ran around its train in Murwillumbah and then stowed the train in the Banana Siding.  It then took its return working No. 10 back to Lismore, picked up the 5 banana wagons there, went to Old Cassino and followed the instructions on the timetable card.  This was ‘take two wagons with you to the siding and pick up the 2 wagons from the Goods Shed Siding’.  Then place the two pickups on the rear of the train.  Then take the two wagons you were carrying around for a free ride, back on the front of the train.  The reason for this, is that the Loop in Old Cassino is not long enough to allow all the banana wagons to stay in the loop, when you add the two from the Goods Shed Siding.  The train then overhangs the loop and the Loco cannot run around the train.  So some ingenious manoeuvring is required.  The train then went back to Grafton Yard and terminated.  I added a small amount of weight to three banana wagons and added two KD washers under one bogie of one wagon.

The next train to run was the cement train, which is train number 3.  But where were the milk wagons that needed to run from Grafton Yard to Lismore Norco Siding?  I searched the layout a couple of times.  Under my walkover bridge over Grafton Yard, were three milk wagons on the Pickup Goods.  I should have known that, as there are wagons not picked up by the pickup goods still sitting in Lismore Yard.  So the driver of that train stole the wrong wagons from Lismore.  I do remember hearing that the operator of the Cement train complained that the milk wagons were not there.  I had no idea what he was rambling about during the last Operations Session.  Now it is clear as mud.  So I ran the cement train from Grafton Yard to Old Cassino.  At this location I re-marshalled the train according to the shunt list.  This train has had a few extra wagons added to it lately.  Some of the new cement wagons are slightly longer that the originals.  So I need to strategically place these wagons in a siding that does cause issues with excess length.  So I can just fit 4 old cement wagons in the Timber Siding at Old Cassino.  I can just fit 2 longer wagons and an original wagon in the siding at Lismore.  That allows me to put 7 standard cement wagons and a longer one, and it fits in the Murwillumbah Cement Siding.  I 0-5-0’ed the three milk wagons to Old Cassino and these were amalgamated onto the train.  The train was run out to Murwillumbah and did all its drop offs.  It then ran its return working No. 4.  Doing some interesting moves at Lismore to ensure that the milk wagons are at the front of the train and then went to Old Cassino, picked up another 4 wagons and then onto Grafton Yard.  This train is getting long.  It must be the longest train at 18 wagons.  Not that long in length though.

Tuesday I could not get motivated.  The women’s Cricket was on TV.  So it was Wednesday when the next trains was attacked.  It was the Pickup Goods for the Branch No. 11, and I had to ensure I identified the driver from Friday night so he could get a solid bollicking for picking up the wrong wagons.  I searched the cards used by North Coast Control and found out that the driver was Jeff.  Jeff was a QR train controller.  No wonder he is not a driver.  He cannot read instructions.  I reviewed his instructions and they appeared clear as day.  He collected 3 wagons from Lismore, and left another 4 there.  I have no idea how Jeff left those four there.  I would assume that he never picked up his Shunt List and was just winging it as we went along.

Anyway, I ran the train from Grafton Yard to Old Cassino and worked out that the train no longer fits in the available tracks.  That is because 4 other cement wagons are in the Timber Siding.  So the train needs to use what is left of the Yard.  To allow this to occur, the driver needs to take 5 wagons with him, as he runs around his train.  He then pushes the last 4 wagons back into the Norco Siding.  He then backs out of the siding, runs around and adds the 5 wagons he took for a joyride, back onto the train in the Yard.  The train continued to Lismore, drops off his wagons in the two sidings and continues to Murwillumbah.  On the way home, he takes the Loop at Lismore, and adds the wagons from the Norco Siding, to the rear of those in the No.1 Storage Siding.  This combines load gets added to the train in the Loop.  The driver then runs around and resumes towards Old Cassino.  Here to takes the Loop.  He cuts off the first 5 wagons and then travels forward and then pushed back into the Butter Siding and collects the 4 wagons there.  The train is them joined back up with those already in the Loop.  The trains travels towards Cassino.  However, the train stops short of Cassino, leaving the train on the branchline track, while he travels over to the Yard and picks up the 5 wagons returned from the meatworks shunt.  These get added to front of the train on the branchline and then he resumes travelling to Grafton Yard.  I ran this whole train twice to ensure that it all worked.  It seemed to do this nicely.  I did do a bit of enhancements to one of the long AOOX wagons.  There was limited bogie swing, so this was enhanced.  I also added a small amount of weight to 4 of the cattle wagons that were on the #39 and #40 meatworks shunt.

After the cricket was finished on Friday I went to the shed to do a couple of things.  There were reports of issues with the stock train at the last Operatrions Session.  I was watching as it was travelling over the bridge.  One rail was swinging on the bridge.  I superglued the rail, that had come loose, to the sleepers on Fawcett’s Creek Bridge at the northern end.  I used a track gauge to ensure that the rails were as close enough to correct.  This is so much better than floating like they were previously.  I then ran the Brisbane Limited from Grafton to Glenapp and return.  The train could not go any farther as all the tracks were in use in Acacia Ridge Yard.  This train was giving poor Geoff B. some issues last Friday.  On the trip, I added weight to three RUB cars.  Thanks Geoff C. for the weights.  I adjusted the bogie heights on three carriages on one end and they are now more accurately coupling to the next carriage in the train.  Over time this train has had wagons swapped out, new Auscision wagons added and bogie heights have been adjusted.  I also added a spring to one coupler on another wagon.  So I am now very happy with the performance of this train. 

On Saturday morning I turned my attention to the stock train that I saw running from Kyogle Stock Siding towards Cassino Yard on the previous Friday during the Ops Session.  This train could not get 1 inch across Fawcett’s Creek bridge without derailing due to the flexing gauge issue of the track.  So this was an interesting test given that I super glued the track the day before.  So the train was run from Cassino Yard, back up to the Kyogle Stock Siding.  It ran well across the bridge and into the siding.  I ran the loco around and then back out of the siding across the bridge, and then again it ran perfectly.  Job done!  While I was in the Cassino Yard, I gave the loco 4803 a run back and forth.  During the last Ops Session it could not lift 5 stock wagons from the yard to the Cassino Meatworks Siding without wheel slip.  Maybe there weas a bit too much oil on the track, but these items do not weigh much.  The loco seemed to run well.  I will put it down to something to monitor next time.

So that was this weeks summary of enhancements on the layout.  I still have quite a lot of items in the To-Do list for this week and lots more projects to start.

Operations Sessions Getting Underway for the Year

So earlier in the week, I was pottering around on the layout.  I add the 3mm styrene spacers under the narrow gauge rails at Park Road station.  I also ran about 8 trains around the layout to place them for the start time of the next Ops Session which was 14:20pm.  I have created a large To-Do list for the next few weeks.  I did some throttle surgery.  I tried to move a radio module from one of my CAB04s to a relatively new Powercab.  I prefer to use a Procab-R instead of any other type of throttle.  But I needed a 9pin JST plug (similar to what is on an NCE D13J decoder, but I did not have one.  So I hard wired the radio board to the throttle board.  I am still looking for some battery clips.  So this throttle is only usable plugged in at this point in time.

After years of testing, and doing other projects, and then cycling back to it, I finally installed ‘Shelton the Photographer’ on the layout at Lismore in the morning on Friday.  To top things off, I have also installed Clayton.  Some of our modelling group will understand the logic here.  These guys are twins and like taking photos of trains.  But my power supply (connected to the layout track bus) to power my Arduino was only putting out 3V.  So I made up three more power supplies.  I tested one and it was working OK.  But I did not have the time or the inclination to replace it before the operations session started.  So I just used a 9V battery to power the Arduino.  I’m sure by the end of the night, it was getting pretty flat.  But I have Shelton working – with and without Clayton.  It has only taken me four and a half years of planning and design.

Shelton the Photographer has his back to the shed in the right foreground ready to capture the train activity.

The Ops Session was scheduled at my place for 7:30 whistle out on Friday evening.  It was the Geoff/Geoff/Jeff/Darren/Darren day.  The rest of the attendees changed our names for the evening to fit in.  Even the person formally known as Aaron, the main reason for holding the Ops Session, changed his name to Aaron-Darren to fit in.  Before the night was complete, the track across Fawcetts Creek bridge had come loose and the rails was flexing out of gauge.  This put a few trains in the dirt when travelling across the bridge.  I actually looked at trying to fix that late this arvo, but it is a bigger job than first thought, so it has been put back to this coming week.  Basically the layout ran reasonably well.  One of my passenger trains had issues.  So I will also look at that this week.  Because of this, some trains ran out of order.  So that caused issues filling up staging tracks.  A number of drivers went roaming around the layout when they should have terminated at a particular locations earlier on.  No Overtime for them.  They eventually back tracked with tail between their legs.  There was almost a head-on at Murwillumbah, when someone was travelling without taking a staff – hey Glen?  I think there was another incident similar to this between Dutton Park and South Brisbane.  Basically more frequent Ops Sessions will assist with familiarisation of locations and procedures.

Geoff and Jeff, but where is the other Geoff?

The rear Cassino aisle chockers with operators.

Rappville Loop at the rear with trains crossing.  Grafton Loops in the foreground and Grafton Loco in between.

Almost a head-on with the Paybus and the banana train at Murwillumbah.  No crew was not paid in the making of this incident.

I had a bit of scout around the layout today and found a few wagons sitting in sidings that should have been picked up.  My banana train sitting in Grafton Yard Staging was 4 wagons short.  They were sitting in the siding at Lismore.  This is weird, as only two wagons get placed there to be loaded.  At least one other wagon was not picked up at Lismore by the branchline Pickup Goods.  So this week I will be going through re-adjusting the train consists and making charges to the shunt lists.

So not being tired of Ops Sessions, some of us then ventured to Anthony’s place on Saturday for another session.  Anthony’s layout continues to progress with scenery.  There were 8 of us operators in attendance and I was SAR2 - The second driver on the South Australian roster.  I ran about 12 trains on the day.  Six of these were very short runs, Staging to Tatiara Downs, or Tatiara Downs to Staging.  I have no issues with this at all.  But I kept the layout operating.  I also got to run an extra, being the weed spray train.  Apparently the first time of this trains run.  It attracted a few foamers with their cameras.  It ran from Jameston to the Southern Aggregates Sand/Stone loading facility.  Then from there to Tatiara Downs and then back to Staging.  I also ran a passenger train on the layout from Staging to the Jameston branchline terminus and then back again to Staging again.   I also got to run a VR railmotor from Staging to Nankiva and then onto Tatiara Downs, and then back again to staging.  Don’t tell the union that I was not ticketed to operate in VR territory.  Today was my first use of a NCE cab06 throttle.  Quite impressive.

Darren caused this incident, and was almost too fast before we could get a shot.

Geoff has some performance problem.

This was to be my next train to operate, but time was called.

Today I spent a small amount of time fixing the cattle loading facility at Lismore.  I need to put a barrier up above the fascia so the operator bodies do not overhang the layout and damage the scenery and scenic items near the baseboard edge.  I will get around to it eventually.  This coming week, I will fix the power supply for Shelton, and have it working properly.  Plenty of work to now do, but no deadlines in sight.

Catching Up on Tasks

I had reason to head to the shed on Sunday evening after I posted my weekly blog for last week.  I had a comment from one operator that he was derailing inside Bonalbo Ballast Siding while shunting.  So I did a bit of investigation.  There is a catch point inside the siding, just inside the main gate of the siding.  The catch point operates in tandem with the mainline points, via a manual point throw.  I think the operator did not throw this point as they were working their train.  As I had removed my ballast plough from this train (and had not yet returned it), and thus the train only had a single van at one end, the operator (living in the 70’s or 80’) was moving the train’s van to the other end of the train before hitting the main line and running his train from Bonalbo to Old Cassino.  So I think I can close off the issue with the points at this location.  I think it was operator error.

So on Monday while watching the cricket, I went to the shed and removed the 4 light support posts that I added the day before.  These were then moved to other positions, inside my access hole inside my layout access blob on that peninsular.  I then started to look at the point at the southern end of Cassino that directs traffic from the Loop to Cassino Yard.  This wire in tube operated point keeps coming out of the Peco point hole.  So I eventually put the wire back inside the point and then adjusted the wire under the layout.  We will see if I have fixed this issue long term.

On Tuesday I started on adding a point motor to another set of points at Cassino, that were previously manually controlled.  This time on the southern end of Cassino for the Main Line to Back Platform Road set of points.  This was previously also controlled via a wire in tube operation.  It took a while but I did it.  I tried to do it on the cheap, but placing the point motor where the manual throw was.  But it would not throw the point given that it was actually coming from a 45 degree angle.  So I had to climb under the layout, put a new throw rod in, attached it under the layout in a piece of conduit and then mounted the point motor upside down attached to the layout baseboard and also with the throw rod attached to that.  It works.  There is a bit of stickiness when I throw the point back to the mainline, but if you push the button twice it throws.

On Tuesday evening a few of us got together on Discord.  There was a suggestion from Geoff about my Operations Manual.  So I included a bit of an update and he said that was OK.  So another enhancement done.

The main task that I had to get around too, but was putting off, was fixing the point motor that was not throwing at Dutton Park for the standard gauge point to send trains to either South Brisbane Interstate, or Fisherman Islands Yard.  I am struggling about what to do.  So I decided to swap out the standard gauge point motor.  That meant unsoldering the wires from the old point motor and removing the old point motor and base.  That worked better, but still not consistently.

In the meantime, I was installing the point motor on the point for the narrow gauge trackage at the same Dutton Park location.  This was installed, wired back to my point controller and given a test and worked first time.  Sometimes you get lucky.  This has also been wired into the indicator light next to the standard gauge indicator light.  These show the direction of these points are set as they are up high and their direction cannot be determined from ground level when operating a train.

Later in the week, I did a bit of work on the re-testing of my Shelton the Photographer test bed.  I have my Arduino based version working.  I have started installing the power supply for the Arduino under the layout and also including an on/off switch to give Shelton some time off.  I might get around to installing that animation sometime this coming week.  I also did some maintenance work on some wooden stumps for my case shed at the Old Cassino Shell Siding.  I really need to get stuck in and finish that area will all the piping for the oil tank unloading.

When the cricket started, I did very little in the shed.  I just watched the cricket on TV.  I did a few things after stumps.  These last couple of days I have been looking after my narrow gauge passengers.  When I install a station platform I use 42 x 19 pine as the platform.  In order to get the passenger carriages to the correct height at the platform, you need to use some 3mm cork under the track.  However, none of my 12mm track will be corked (as I have none left), none of that area will be sceniced.  I did however, cut some 3mm styrene strips to place under the track at South Brisbane, Yeerongpilly and Park Road stations.  South Brisbane station's styrene has been installed and completed and trains tested through the platforms.  This looks good.

I will spend some time this week moving about 8 trains along in the timetable and that will advance the fast clock about 2 hours.  There is a mini-Operations Session this coming Friday.